Prevention Archives - Page 7 of 7 - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
New Hampshire Program Finds Doctor Visits Help Keep Teens off Drugs and Alcohol
December 22, 2016 | Emily Taylor
A program in New Hampshire is finding that regular conversations with their doctor can be valuable in preventing drug and alcohol use by teens. The state has implemented an evidence-based “screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment” (SBIRT) protocol in 23 medical facilities across the state, thanks in part to grant funding.
Program Aims to Eliminate Stigma Around Mental Health Before It Starts
October 25, 2016 | Emily Taylor
Researchers evaluated the “Mental Health Matters” program in Santa Barbara, Calif., which offers 6th graders a curriculum designed to increase understanding of mental illness, reduce the associated stigma and teach them wellness practices. The study results (published in October issue of Journal of School Health), indicate the program had positive impact, including lowered stigma.
6 Myths About Suicide That Every Educator And Parent Should Know
September 28, 2016 | Emily Taylor
In this story from NPR’s recent series on mental health in the schools, David Jobes, of Catholic University’s Suicide Prevention Lab, debunks six myths about suicide with valuable information for parents and those who work with children.
Viewpoint: How Can We Address The Psychiatrist Shortage?
September 22, 2016 | Emily Taylor
In this viewpoint piece, Gil Noam argues for the need to reach children through the school system for effective early detection and intervention of mental health concerns. He advocates the implementation of a “targeted prevention and intervention approach” similar to that used for physical and dental health.
Read the viewpoint piece on meeting the mental health needs of children and youth»
FosterClub AllStars on National Child Welfare Policy
September 14, 2016 | Emily Taylor
In this column, David Samuel Hall of FosterClub All-Stars, a group of foster youth advocates, shares his perspective on the need for legislation to improve the child welfare system. A former foster youth, he shares that he believes mental health services and Wraparound services “would have completely changed” his story.
Read David Samuel Hall’s perspective on needed child welfare improvements»
Policing the Teenage Brain
September 12, 2016 | Emily Taylor
In this Atlantic interview, Lisa Thurau, founder and executive director of Strategies for Youth discusses the positive impact of their training program for police on youth mental health. In Cambridge, the program led to a 65 percent decline in juvenile arrests and an 80 percent decline in runaways.
Read the article about the benefits of training police on youth mental health issues»
New Recommendation: Limit Exposure to ‘virtual violence’ in children’s lives
August 1, 2016 | Emily Taylor
New guidelines from American Academy of Pediatrics recommend limiting children’s exposure to “virtual violence” in video games and media. One recommendation is to “protect children under age six from all virtual violence, because they cannot always distinguish fantasy from reality”.
Read the article on guidelines for limiting kids’ exposure to virtual violence»
NAMI Program for Middle and High Schoolers Increases Understanding of Mental Health
July 11, 2016 | Emily Taylor
NAMI’s Ending the Silence program is designed to help middle and high schoolers understand mental illness. The free classroom presentation helps raise awareness and change perceptions around mental health conditions.
Learn more and schedule a presentation in your community for the coming school year»
Downloadable Research Brief: Differential Response and the Safety of Children Reported to Child Protective Services: A Tale of Six States
July 7, 2016 | Emily Taylor
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has made available a research brief comparing outcomes in counties with child protective service agencies using a Differential Response (DR) model when handling reports of child maltreatment, versus the traditional Investigative Response. The DR response varies based on the identified risk for the child – low risk families are given prevention services.
Can Big Data Predict Child Abuse?
March 30, 2016 | Emily Taylor
Innovators in child protective services around the country are looking at using data for predictive analytics as a tool for early intervention practices. However, the proposed implementation of some of the analysis of at-birth data is controversial. A director for the Children’s Data Network at the University of Southern California who has worked with Allegheny County in PA on a predictive analytics model, is quoted as saying: “We have 6 million children reported for abuse or neglect, and how you make triaging decisions early on absolutely impacts outcomes for that child and family…The use of predictive analytics in child welfare could change … the system.”